The Bible

We believe the Bible is the Word of God.  All 66 books of the Old and New Testaments though written by men are inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is without error (known as inerrancy). If there appears to be some error in Scripture on any topic, it is due to our own lack of knowledge or ignorance or some gap in our thinking. The Bible is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice for the church, and for our individual lives and families as disciples (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21; 1 Thess 2:13; Rom 3:2).  

The Trinity

We believe there is only one true God; yet this one divine Being exists in three distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of Whom is fully and equally and eternally God, perfect in all His attributes (Gen 1:26; Deut 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; James 2:19; Mark 12:32; John 10:30; 1 Cor 8:4-6; 2 Cor 3:17; Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 12:4-6; 2 Cor 13:14). 

God the Father

We believe God the Father, the Almighty, is the Creator of all, and His glory the end of all. God is Spirit. He is holy and righteous. He is all-powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-wise. He is the great I AM (The LORD - Yahweh) Who has revealed His essential nature as compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in unfailing love and truth (Gen 1-2; Ex 34:6-7; Ps 103:8; Neh 9:17; Joel 2:13; Jon 4:2; Eph 4:6; Heb 4:13; 1 John 4:8, 16; Rev 4:8, 11).      

God the Son

We believe Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He is the only begotten Son of God; in fact, He is God in the flesh. He emptied Himself of His divine glory and became a man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is fully God and fully man. He lived a sinless life. He died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (as our substitute - penal substitution). He was literally and bodily raised from the dead. He ascended to heaven where He presently sits at the right hand of the Father and intercedes for us. Jesus Christ is the only Way to heaven. One day He will return again in glory, and He will judge the world in righteousness (Matt 1:18-25; 16:27; John 1:1, 14; 3:16; 8:58-59; 14:6; Acts 17:31; 1 Cor 15; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; Phil 2:6; Col 2:9; Rom 8:34).          

God the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and therefore He is God. He is personal. He is not an "it." He has deep emotions. He inspired all the authors of the Bible and He guides us into all the truth. He convicts the world of sin and causes a person to be born again and to be united to the body of Christ. He empowers the Christian for Christ-like living and gospel witness. He gives spiritual gifts to each believer in the church. He securely seals the believer in salvation and He is our deposit Who guarantees our salvation (John 3:8; 14:26; 15:26; 16:8-11, 13; Acts 1:8; 5:3-4; 8:29; 10:19; 13:2; 1 Cor 12; Gal 5:22-23; Eph 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Cor 1:22). 

Human Beings

We believe all human beings have been created in the image of God. Yet, this image has been marred in us due to our own sin and disobedience, resulting in physical and spiritual death. This happened at the Fall when Adam and Eve first sinned. Mankind is sinful both by nature and by choice. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Every human being is spiritually dead and incapable of restoring our relationship to God on our own. By nature, we are children of wrath (Gen 1:26-27; Gen 3; Eccl 7:20; Rom 3:23; 5:12-21; 6:23; Eph 2:1).          

Salvation

We believe that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It is a gift. We have eternal/everlasting life. We have peace with God and have been adopted as His children. We are justified by faith. Justification means not guilty, innocent, acquitted of all charges. It is a term from the law court. Because Jesus took the penalty we deserved on the cross (penal substitution), therefore, we are declared not guilty in God’s court of law. Justification is a gift of God’s grace received by faith alone, apart from any and every work. Yet, God desires that we live a life of good works, out of love for Him and in obedience to the Lord. We are redeemed by Christ and reconciled to God through Christ. We believe in the eternal secruity of the born-again Christian (Gal 2:16; Rom 3:24, 28; 5:1, 11; 6:23; 8:14-17; Eph 2:8-10).   

The Church

We believe the church is not a building but consists of people, men and women who confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The church is the body of Christ and Jesus is the Head. As members, Christians should work together so that we can serve as Christ’s Presence on earth. God desires unity in His church as a sign of His love and so that we may fulfill His mission. The mission of the church is to spread the gospel and make disciples. The church has two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is by immersion only. The Lord's Supper is a memorial meal (Matt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15; John 13:34-35; 1 Cor 11:23-26; 12:12-31; Eph 4:1-6). 

Eternity

We believe one day Jesus Christ will return to the earth with the holy angels - visibly and gloriously. We believe in the Rapture and the Great Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom. There will be a resurrection of the dead and a Judgment day. Believers will be raised to eternal life, to receive an imperishable body that is like our Lord’s glorious resurrected body, destined to live in a New Heavens and on a New Earth. Believers will receive rewards for obedience on Judgment day. Before Judgment day, when a believer dies, they go to be with Christ in Paradise, awaiting the resurrection. Unbelievers will be condemned on Judgment day, made to suffer eternal punishment in Hell (Matt 24; 25:31-46; Luke 23:43; 1 Cor 3:10-15; Phil 1:21-23; 3:21; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Heb 9:27-28; Rev 20:11-15; 21-22).